Vinca minor plant named &#39;sunny skies&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Vinca minor  is provided that is particularly well suited for growing as a distinctive ground cover. The new variety is a branch mutation of the ‘Bowles’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and unlike its parent displays attractive smooth irregularly variegated foliage of varying shades of golden yellow green and dark green. An upright mounding and trailing growth habit is exhibited. Attractive solitary bright violet-blue flowers are formed primarily during mid-spring. The available choices in ornamental ground covers are expanded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The new Vinca minor variety of the present invention wasdiscovered during September, 1996 at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., as abranch sport of unknown causation of the ‘Bowles’ variety (non-patentedin the United States). Such new variety has been carefully preserved andstudied in view of its distinctive combination of characteristics. Hadthe new variety of the present invention not been discovered andpreserved, it would have been lost to mankind.

[0002] It was found that the new Vinca minor variety of the presentinvention exhibits the following combination of characteristics:

[0003] (a) forms attractive smooth irregularly variegated foliage ofvarying shades of golden yellow green and dark green,

[0004] (b) displays an upright mounding and trailing growth habit,

[0005] (c) forms attractive solitary bright violet-blue flowers, and

[0006] (d) is particularly well suited for growing as a distinctiveornamental ground cover.

[0007] The new variety of the present invention can be readilydistinguished from its ‘Bowles’ variety parent by the presence of thevariegated foliage as described and illustrated. More specifically, thefoliage of the ‘Bowles’ variety is totally lacking such variegation andpossesses plain all-green leaves.

[0008] The new variety of the present invention well meets the needs ofthe horticultural industry and expands the choices of available groundcovers. The bright violet-blue flowers appear during mid-spring andsporadically throughout the growing season.

[0009] Division and the rooting of cuttings have been used to asexuallypropagate the new variety at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. It has been foundthat the distinctive combination of characteristics of the new varietyis firmly fixed and is reliably transmitted to succeeding generations.

[0010] The new variety of the present invention has been named ‘SunnySkies’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0011] The accompanying photographs show specimens of the new variety incolor as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same incolor illustrations of this nature. The plants were approximately twoyears of age and were being grown in the landscape at West Grove, Pa.,U.S.A.

[0012]FIG. 1 illustrates the distinctive typical smooth irregularlyvariegated foliage of varying shades of golden yellow green and darkgreen of the new variety of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of the typical solitaryfive-petaled bright violet-blue flowers of the new variety of thepresent invention as well as the distinctive variegated foliage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The following is a detailed description of the new variety thatwas obtained while observing plants being grown outdoors at West Grove,Pa., U.S.A., during April. The plants were approximately two years ofage and were being grown on their own roots under typical nurserygrowing conditions. The chart used in the identification of color is theR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.More common color terms are to be accorded their ordinary dictionarysignificance.

[0015] Botanical Classification Vinca minor, cv. ‘Sunny Skies’

[0016] Plant:

[0017]Habit.—Upright mounding and trailing with vertical growth beingpresent from a central mounding mat.

[0018]Height.—Approximately 7.5 to 12.5 cm of annual growth.

[0019]Width.—Approximately 30 to 60 cm of annual growth.

[0020] Branches:

[0021]Diameter.—Approximately 1 to 2 mm.

[0022]Length.—Commonly vary from 30 to 120 cm.

[0023]General Appearance.—Rounded and striated.

[0024]Color.—Young stems commonly are Yellow-Green Group 144C to 144D,and mature stems commnonly are darker green, Yellow-Green Group 146B to147C. The mature stems commonly display a slight pubescence having acoloration of near Greyed-White Group 156D.

[0025]Internodes.—Approximately 2 to 5 cm in length.

[0026] Leaves:

[0027]Arrangement.—Opposite.

[0028]Length.—For young leaves approximately 2.5 cm and for matureleaves approximately 4 cm.

[0029]Width.—For young leaves approximately 1.5 cm and for mature leavesapproximately 2.5

[0030]Shape.—Ovate to elliptical. The apices are obtuse on young leavesand tend to be acute as the leaves mature. The bases are acute. Theleaves are cupped with the margins being slightly higher than themidribs.

[0031]Margins.—Entire.

[0032]Texture.—Consistently smooth.

[0033]General Appearance.—Smooth and semi-glossy.

[0034]Color.—Young Foliage: Commonly an irregular display on the dorsalsurface of Yellow-Green Group 150B, Yellow-Green Group 151C to 151D,Green Group 141A to 141B, and Green Group 143C, and on the ventralsurface of Greyed-Yellow Group 160B and Yellow-Green Group 151C to 154D.Mature Foliage: Commonly an irregular display on the dorsal surface ofYellow-Green Group 147A to 147B, Yellow-Green Group 147B to 147C,Yellow-Green Group 147C to 147D, and Yellow-Green Group 151B to 151C,and on the ventral surface of Yellow-Green Group 146B, Yellow-GreenGroup 147B, and Yellow-Green Group 151B to 151C.

[0035]Midrib.—The coloration is Yellow-Green Group 150C to 150D on thedorsal surface and Green Group 143C on the ventral surface.

[0036]Petioles.—The length is approximately 2 mm for young leaves andapproximately 3 mm for mature leaves. The diameter is approximately 1 mmfor both young leaves and mature leaves. The coloration is Green Group143C on the dorsal surface and Green Group 143C to Green Group 143D onthe ventral surface.

[0037] Inflorescence

[0038]Time of Blossoming.—Primarily during mid-spring and sporadicallythroughout the growing season.

[0039]Calyx.—Five in number, small, and possess linear lobesapproximately 3 mm in length that are Yellow-Green Group 145C incoloration.

[0040]Corolla Configuration.—Perfect five-petaled flowers are borne fromthe leaf axis that initially are funnel-shaped prior to full opening asshown in FIG. 2.

[0041]Bud Size.—Approximately 1.5 cm in length and approximately 4 mm inwidth.

[0042]Corolla Color.—Before opening Violet-Blue Group 92A and 92B, andwhen opened Violet-Blue Group 92A and 92B on the dorsal surface andViolet-Blue Group 92B and 92C on the ventral surface.

[0043]Reproductive Parts.—Five stamens and one pistil.

[0044] Development

[0045]Vegetation.—Vigorous.

[0046]Resistance to Diseases.—No particular susceptibility to diseaseshas been noted during observations to date.

I claim: 1 . A new and distinct variety of Vinca minor plant thatexhibits the following combination of characteristics: (a) formsattractive smooth irregularly variegated foliage of varying shades ofgolden yellow green and dark green, (b) exhibits an upright mounding andtrailing growth habit, (c) forms attractive solitary bright violet-blueflowers, and (d) is particularly well suited for growing as adistinctive ornamental ground cover; substantially as illustrated anddescribed.